The 70 Words Project

In 2018, British Council is celebrating 70 years of its presence in India. We have been inspired by India every day of the last 70 years, and want to build on the connections and impact of our work, share those stories and inspire millions of young people for the next 70 years.

As part of our 70th anniversary celebrations, we bring you 'The 70 Words Project', to bring to light how India has influenced and inspired the English language over the years by presenting 70 words of Indian origin that have found their way into the mainstream English lexicon. All the words featured in the project are part of the Oxford English Dictionary, and experts from the Oxford University Press were consulted while finalising the 70 words.

Spanning across a wide range of categories from food, to clothing, to people, spirituality, wildlife and more, the words are a testament to the relationship UK and India have shared in the last 70 years through educational and cultural partnerships and fostering collaborations.